Turbine inlet piping



Oct. 12, 1943. c. D. HERDER TURBINE INLET PIPING Filed Sept. 19, 1942 W04 a v .7

Patented Oct. 12, 1943 UNlTE D- S-TATES PATENT OFFICE Carl D.

Allis- Chalmers 12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to elastic fluid turbine apparatus andmore particularly to high temperature gaseous motive confining andconducting structures capableof safely withstanding large variations inthe temperature and pressure of the confined fluid.

The invention .is particularly applicable, although in no mannerlimited, to vertically inclined portions of the jacketed combustionchambers and/or fluid conductors employed in combustion turbine systemsin which the inner ,mo-

.tive fluid confining wall and the means supporting and spacing samefrom the outer wall become extremely hot and incapable of withstandingthe stresses set up therein (a) by appreciable difierences in thepressures of the fluidsacting upon opposite sides of said wall, (b) byits expansion and contraction, both longitudinally-and radially,relative to the outer wall, and (c) by the weight of the thick layer ofinsulation which is disposed between the inner and outer walls andsupported in part by the means interconnecting and spacing said walls.

In recently proposed constructions, the stresses set up by said pressuredifferences and relative expansion are entirely eliminated and/ormaterially reduced by providing breathing openings in the inner wallandfilling the space between the inner and outer walls with permeableinsulation and by supporting theinner wall on the outer wall in a mannerpermitting movements. of the inner wall, both longitudinally andradially with re Herder; Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to ManufacturingCompany, waukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application September19, 1942, Serial No.

spectto the outerwallr These proposed constructions are satisfactory forhorizontal combustion chamber and conduit portions and also for elbowportions inwhich approximately half of the weight of the insulation isdistributed over the confining portion of the inner and outer walls, butthey are notentirely satisfactory for vertically inclined portionsinwhich much of the weight of the insulation is necessarily carriedbythe means interconnecting andspacing said walls since the number ofinterconnecting and spacing -means must be increased in order to providesupports having sufficient strength which materially increases the'heat'transmitted to the outer wall.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved innerwallor lining suspension for a vertical portion of a high temperaturegaseous fluid confining structure which minimizes heat conduction to theouter surrounding wall, which afiords the necessary breathing action andeffects areduction in the forces resisting both longitudinal and radialexpansion of the lining, and which minimizes the stresses imparted tothe lining and other highly heated por= tions connected therewith by theinsulation disposed between the lining and outer wall.

In accordance with this invention, one or more of the aforementionedimproved results may be obtained by employing lining sections each ofwhich is spaced from and connected with said outer wall for bothlongitudinal and radial move ment relative thereto by means of aninsulation supporting structure effective to transmit to the outerwallsubstantially the entire weight of the lining section and the weight ofthe insulation disposed between the lining section and said outer wallwithout imparting any material degree of stress to the lining section orto the highly heated portions of the suppo tingstructure connectedtherewith. r 1 r The invention accordingly consists of the variousfeatures ofccpstruction, combinations of elements and arrangements ofparts as more fully set forth in the appended clairns and in thedetailed description, reierence-being had to the accompanying drawing,in which: i v

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2illustrating a vertically extending combustion turbine inletconduitembodyin the invention; L V

Fig. 2 is a partial transver e section taken .on line 11-11 of Fig, 1; VI

Fig. 3 is anenlarged oi the right-mend side of the structure shown inFig. 2 withthe in sulation indicated in dot dash lines in the interestof simplicity; I

Fig.4 is a bottom viewcf. the structure shown inFig.3;and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lining susp n pn bracketshowninFig, 3,.

Referring t ig 1 and 2, of the drawing it is seen that vert cal p pingembodying the invention may he formed-in separable portions 1 eachcomprising an annular outer wall section 2 having flanged ends 3 adaptedtobe bolted or otherwise coaxially secured to similar sections to form,a

pipe of desired length) an inner annular linin section 4, a plurality ofannular disks 5, I and 18, a plurality or connectors fl imounting saiddisks on the outer lower end surface portion of the inner section l inradiallyspaced concentric relation with respect to said inner sectionand with respect to each other, a'plurality of connections 4 lguidin'gly interconnecting' outer peripheral portions of the disk 8 inradially spaced coaxial relation with opposed portions of the outer wallsection 2 for movement both radially and longitudinaily relativethereto, a plurality of cantilever beam members l2 secured to andextending radially inward from the upper end portion of the outer wallsection 2, a plurality of laterally flexible elements [3 adjustablyconnecting intermediate portions of the connectors 9 and the underlyingdisks 1 and 8 with the end portions of the beam members l2, an annularcover member H, which is in the nature of a disk, secured in spacedconcentric relation to the outer upper end surface portion of each innersection 4 by means of brackets l6 and permeable insulation l1substantially filling the space between said inner and outer sections.

The outer peripheral portion of the disk 8 is provided with a series ofcircumferentiallyspaced, outwardly diverging radial slots l8 and theouter end portions of the connectors 9 extend in overlying relation withrespect to said slots with their outer ends terminating substantiallyflush with the outer periphery of the disk 8. The guidinginterconnection II is formed by the outer ends of some of the connectors9 and by a series of circumferentially spaced bifurcated tabs 2|removably secured in an annular recess l9, which is formed in theopposed flanged portion 3 of the outer section 2, by any suitable meanssuch as the screws 22 with their bifurcated ends extending radiallyinward and receiving therebetween the adjacent end of the opposedconnector 9. The portion of the connector 9 intermediate the disks 1 and8 has formed or fabricated integrally therewith a vertically extendingtubular member 23 adapted to receive therein the lowerend of thelaterally flexible element l3. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the connector9 is made in two pieces with the member 23 welded therebetween. Theadjacent opposed edge portions of disks 1 and 8 are provided withsemi-circular notches 24 and 26, respectively, in order to space saiddisks from the member 23. The lower end of the laterally flexibleelement I3 is welded to the bottom of the tubular member 23. Theconnectors 9 may be stiifened to prevent lateral flexing thereof bywelding thereto the transverse members 21. Heat transfer from the innersection 4 to the connectors 9 secured thereto is reduced to a minimum bycutting away portions of the connectors to decrease the contact areabetween the inner ends of said connectors and the inner section.

Theinner end of each cantilever beam member l2 terminates in an enlargedinner end portion 28 having a bore or opening 29 extending verticallytherethrough. The upper end of each of the laterally flexible elementsl3 has secured thereon an externally threaded member 3| of less diameterthan the bore 29; the member 3| extending loosely through said bore andbeing adjustably connected with the ooacting beam member |2 by means ofnuts 32 and 33 adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of the en-'larged portion 28, respectively. As shown, each element I3 is welded totheupper end of the member 3| disposed thereon and it should now beobvious that by suitably turning the nuts 32 and 33 on the members 3|,the effective vertical length of each element l3 can be varied asdesired within limits determined by the length of the member 3| securedthereon. The beam members 2 may be formed integral with the upperflanged end of the outer section 2 or removably fixed thereon by havingtheir outer upper end portions terminating in projections 34 disposedwithin an annular recess 33 formed tical adjustment of the unit,

of the sections I.

disks 6, 7 and 8, the connectors 9, the brackets l6 and the cover member4 correlated in the manner shown in Fig. 3; (d) inserting the lower endof the laterally flexible elements |3 (it being assumed that externallythreaded members 3| have already been welded to the upper ends of theelements I 3) in the tubular members 23 and welding the exposed lowerend of each element |3 to the bottom portion of the member 23; (e)

stacking preformed blocks of permeable insulation about the liningsection 4, the insulation being supported by the disks 6, 1 and 8 unitedthereto with one or more blocks omitted to provide space for placing thecantilever beam members |2 over the members 3| on the elements l3; (f)coaxially sliding thereabout the annular outer section 2 to which mayhave already been secured the cantilever beam members 2, the bores 28 inthe ends of the cantilever beam members being alined with and receivingtherein the members 3| on which have already been placed the lower nuts33; (g) placing the upper nuts 32 on the members 3| and adjusting thepositions of the nuts 32 and 33 to effect the desired vercomprising theinner section 4, the disks 6, I and 8, the connectors 9, the brackets[6, the cover members l4 and the insulation supported on the disks 6, 1and 8, relative to the outer section 2; (h) attaching the guiding tabs2| to the lower flanged end 3 of the outer section 2 as shown; and (i)filling the space left for the insertion of the cantilever beam membersI! with insulation. If the length of the pipe necessitates constructingsame in two -or more sections, an additional section or sections areassembled as just described and the sections are. then placed in coaxialabutting relation and secured together in the manner indicated in Fig. 1to form a pipe of desired length. The use of preformed blocks ofinsulation obviously complicates, to some extent, the assembly However,the use of loose insulation should be avoided in combustion gas turbineinstallations as it may be drawn into the gas stream and seriouslydamage the turbine receiving same.

The lining sections 4 and the disks and cover members secured theretoare axially spaced apart from the like elements of adjacent sections inorder to permit relative longitudinal expansion and contraction thereofand in order to provide a space therebetween which is in communicationwith the interior of the inner sections 4 and with the space filled withthe permeable insulation H to thereby provide the breathing actionnecessary to maintain the pressures acting upon opposite sides of thelining section 4 substantially equal at all times. The lining sections 4and the parts united therewith, such as the cover members 4 and thedisks 6, 1 and 8 and the insulation disposed between the inner and outersections, are carried or supported entirely by a relatively cool portionof the outer wall by means of the cantilever beam members l2 and thelaterally flexible elements l3 interconnecting the ends also carries thelining 531d outer wall spaced a considerable distance ftions thereof andby their expansion to expand longitudinally, relative to the fixed lowerends :of'the tabs 2!. obvious that the abovefldescribed constructionreduces heat transfer between the inner and outer port which I I I'jingsection, the horizontal insulationsupportmg "though the inventionis "tibn gas turbine systems, that it is not desired to limittheinvention to "the exact details of construction herein shown 6 "anddescribed as various scope of the appended claims may sons skilled inthe art.

akin-H683 connecting intermediate portions of the insulation support,which in addition to the insulation section 4, with portions or abovethe insulation supporting wall.

The guiding tabs 2| will permitboth longitudinal and radial movement ofthe unit, comprising t-he insulation support and lining, rela- "tive'tothe outer wall. However, the elements l3, although permitting radialmovements of said unit relative lateral flexibility, obviously functionto maintain the insulation support, 1. e., the disks 6, I and 8,

to said outer wall due to their the connectors 9 and the adjacent end ofthe lining section 4, in a predetermined relation with respect to theopposed bottom portion of the "outer section 2. In other words, theinsulation support and the elements l3 fix the lower end of the liningsection 4 relative to the lower 'end'of the outer section 2 and prevent,except for negligible longitudinal movements ofthe insulation supportproduced by slight variations in the length of elements It effected bylateral deflecand contraction relative to the outer wallsection, alongitudinal movement of the lower end of the inner section 4 relativeto the lower end of the outer section 2. Obviously,

with the construction" just specified, the inner sections aresubstantially free i. e., vertically upward,

are also substantiallyfree to expand radially relative to the outerwall'section 2.; I v The only metallic connection between-the inner 4section 4 and the outer section 2 is that'provided by the restrictedcross sectional area of the ele- "ments l3 and bythe sliding contactbetween outer ends of the connectors 9 and the bifurcated endsConsequently, it should also-be wall sections to a minimum and providesa supsuspends the entire weight of the linwall connected threwith, andthe insulation disposed thereon from the outer wall section which isrelatively cool and therefore capable of-supporting said weight withoutdanger of excessively stressing said wall.

A The invention is of general application with respent to hightemperature fluid confining structures embodying vertical wall sections,and alillustrated' as applied to'inlet'piping of the type embodied incombusit should be understood modifications within the occur toper- Itis claimed anddesired to secure by Letters Patent: c l g I 1. Aconfining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprising avertically inclined elements 13 provide means suspendingly inter-qthereof and they iii outer wall for movement "radially I ally flexiblemeans suspendingly interconnecting intermediate portions} of saidspacing wan poringly connected "with l opposite pornens of the outerWall for movement both lone-itudinally'and "radially relative thereto,and means suspendingly interconnecting intermediate portions of said"spacing wall portion with portions of said outer wall spaced aconsiderable distance above said spacing wall portion. 1 I

A confining structure for a high tempera --ture gaseousfluid comprisinga vertic'all'y'inolined outerwa'll, a vertically inclined inner wallhaving secured to its lower end a laterally extending ins'ulationsupportand-spacing wall portion guidingl'y connected with opposite portions ofthe both longitudinally and relativethereto, and a plurality oflatertion with portions of said outer wallopposite the upper end of saidinner 'wall. 20 v 1 3. A confining structure for a high temperaturegaseous fluid comprising a vertically inclined 'outerwall, a verticallyinclined inner wall having secured to its lower end a laterallyextending insulation support and spacing wall portion guidin'glyconnected with opposite portions of the outer wall for movement bothlongitudinally and radially relative thereto, means suspendinglyinterconnecting intermediate portions of said spacing wall portion withportions of said outer wall spaced a considerable distance above saidspacing wall portion, and insulation carried by said support and spacingwall portion and substantially filling the space between said inner andouter walls. Y

4. A confining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprisinga vertically inclined outer wall, a vertically inclined inner wallspaced from said outer wall, a transverse insulation sup- 40 portdisposed between said walls and being united with the lower end portionof said inner wall, means guidingly interconnecting said support withsaid outer wall for movement both longitudinally and radially relativethereto, and means suspendingly interconnecting intermediate portions ofsaid support with portions of said outer wall spaced a considerabledistance above said support.

said inner wall having its lower end interconnected with oppositeportions of said outer wall ,for movement both longitudinally andradially relative thereto by means united with said inner wall andforming in effect a horizontal wall adapted to support insulationdisposed between said inner and outer walls, and meanssuspendinglysinterconnecting intermediate portions of said horizontalwall with wall spaced a considerable distance above said horizontalwall. 1 s '6. 'A confinin'g'structure for a high temperature gaseousfluid comprising a vertical outer. wall, a vertical inner wall, meansincluding a plurality of wall forming members united to the outersurface of the lower end of said inner wallin laterallyspaced'horizontal wall forming relation, 'means' guidinglyinterconnecting said united members with'oppo'sed portions of saidouterwall ,r'o'r movement 'b'oth longitudinally and radially outerwall,,a vertically inclined inner wall having secured to its lower end alaterally extending insulation support and spacing wall portion guidrelative thereto,

and means including "laterally flexible elements suspendinglyinterconnecting intermediate portions of said united members i 5, Aconfining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprising avertical outer wall, ;a vertioal inner wall spaced from said outer wall,

portions of said outer I with portions of: said outer wall spaceda-cone,siderable', distance above said united members. 7. A confiningstructure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprising a verticallyextending annular outer wall, a vertically extending annular innerwall,means including concentric, disks united to the lower end of saidinner-wall in radially spaced horizontal wall forming relation, jmeansguidingly interconnecting outer peripheral portions of said united diskswith opposed portions of said outer wall for movement bothlongitudinally and radially relative to the outer;wall, and meansincluding a series of circumferentially spaced cantilever beam membersand laterally flexible elements suspendingly interconnectintermediateportions of said united disks with portions ofsaid outer wall spaced aconsiderable distance above said disks.

8. A confining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprisinga vertically extending annular outer wall, a vertically extendingannular inner wall, concentric disks united in radially spaced relationwith respect to each other, means securing said united disks in radiallyspaced, concentric, horizontal wall forming relation on the lower end ofsaid inner wall, means guidingly interconnecting outer peripheralportions of said united disks in radially spaced relation with opposedportions of said outer wall for movement both longitudinally andradially relative thereto,

a series of circumferentially spaced cantilever .beam members extendinginward from portions of said outer wall a considerable distance abovesaid guiding interconnections, and laterally flexible elementsconnecting intermediate portions of said united disks with said beammembers to thereby suspend said inner wall and disks as a unit from saidseries of beam members.

9. A confining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluid comprisinga vertically extending annular outer wall, a vertically extendingannular inner wall, concentric disks united in radially spaced relationwith respect to each other, means securing said united disks in radiallyspaced,

concentric, horizontal wall forming relation on the lower end of saidinner wall, means guidingly interconnecting outer peripheral portions ofsaid united disks in radially spaced relation with opposed portions ofsaid outer wall for movement "both longitudinally and radially relativethereto,

a series of circumferentially spaced cantilever beam members extendinginward from portions of saidouter wall a considerable distance abovesaid guiding interconnections, laterally flexible elements connectingintermediate portions of said'united disks with the end portions of said"beam members to thereby suspend said inner wall andunited disks as aunit from said' series of beam members, insulation supported bysaidunited disks and substantially filling the annular. 3 space between saidinner and outer walls, and an annular horizontal cover member disposedbetween upper opposed portions of said inner and outer walls.

10. A confining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluidcomprising a vertically extending annular outer wall, annular inner wallforming sections disposed in proximate 'end to ,end relation, a groupofv concentric disks united in radially spaced relation with respect toeach other and secured in concentric horizontal wall forming relation tothe lower end of each section,

means guidingly interconnecting outer peripheral portions of said groupof disks with opposed portions of said outer wall for movement bothlongitudinally and radially relative thereto, means connectingintermediate portions of said group of disks with portions of said outerwall spaced a considerable distance above said guiding interconnectionsto thereby suspend each section and the group of disks secured theretoas a unit from opposed portions of said outer wall, and permeableinsulation substantially filling each annular compartment formed by anannular section, the group of disks secured thereto and the opposedinner suriace of said outer wall.

11. A confining structure for a high temperature gaseous fluidcomprising a vertically extending annular outer wall, annular inner wallforming sections disposed in proximate end to end relation, a group ofconcentric disks united in radially spaced relation with respect to eachother and secured in concentric horizontal wall forming relation to thelower end of each section, means guidingly interconnecting outerperipheral portions of said group of disks with opposed portions of saidouter wall for movement both longitudinally and radially relativethereto, means connecting intermediate portions of said group of diskswith portions of said outer wall spaced a considerable distance abovesaid guiding interconnections to thereby suspend each section and thegroup of disks secured thereto as a unit from opposed portions of saidouter wall,

permeable insulation substantially filling each annular compartmentformed by an annuular section, the group of disks secured thereto andthe opposed inner surfaces of said outer wall, and an annular covermember secured to the upper end of each section in coaxial radiallyspaced -t relation with respect. to said section and with respect to thesurrounding outer wall.

12. A confining structure for a high tempera ture gaseous fluidcomprising a vertically extend- ;ing annularouter wall, annular innerwall form- .ing sections disposed in proximate end to end relation, agroup of concentric disks united in :radially spaced relation withrespect to each 5 other and secured in concentric horizontal wall.forming relation'to the lower end of each section, means guidinglyinterconnecting outer peripheral portions of said group of disks with.opposed portions of said outer wall for movement both longitudinally andradially relative thereto, ,a series of circumferentially spacedcantilever beam members extending inward from portions of said outerwall adjacent the upper end of each 'section, laterally flexibleelements connecting intermediate portions of said group of disks withend portions of the adjacent overlying series of .beam members tothereby suspend each section and the group of disks secured thereto as aunit 7 ,from said series of beam members, permeable in- I sulationsubstantially filling each annular compartment formed by anannular-section, the

group of disks secured thereto and the opposed inner surface of saidouter wall, and an annular 1 cover member secured to the upper end ofeach section in coaxial radially spaced relation with respect to saidsection and with respect to the inner ends of the adjacent series ofbeam members.

CARL D. HnaDnR.

